If Scotland holds another independence referendum, it’ll be more disastrous than Brexit

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Ahead of the first minister of Scotland’s statement on a second independence referendum, her spokesman said she would “seek to strike an inclusive tone”.

Given the clear majority in Scotland do not want a rerun of the 2014 vote any time soon, that was never going to be easy (Sturgeon: I want another independence vote by 2021).

In any case, she has gone ahead with announcing plans to progress legislation for another vote within the next two years, but has in addition created a smokescreen of two superficial initiatives to seek the views of politicians and members of the public outside of the independence movement.

These initiatives lack credibility in that politicians at Holyrood have been let down in the past by similar overtures from Nicola Sturgeon which developed into a dialogue to justify more grievance in support of independence.

Sturgeon is doubtless genuinely frustrated at what she portrays as Brexit “chaos” and her lack of influence over the course that process has taken. Yet the path she now envisages for Scotland is one of her own making.

In seeking to leave the closest of all possible unions that we have with the rest of the UK, the great majority of the people will realise that Sturgeon is proposing a level of disruption and uncertainty to rival anything that Brexit has thrown at us.

Keith Howell
West Linton

As Indyref2 begins to gain momentum, the government will do well to stop and think again on the true cost of Brexit – which may include fragmenting the UK permanently, with Scotland breaking away, and a Northern Ireland moving towards unification with Ireland – in a resurgence of the violence of old.

Just as Scotland did an about-turn in Indyref1, recognising its greater strength with the UK, so the government needs to recognise Britain’s need to be in the EU.

Both Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU, and the DUP is no more representative of the people of Northern Ireland than the referendum was of opinions on Brexit.

Michael Cunliffe
Ilkley

What about poor pensioners?

This debate about taking away free TV licences and bus passes from pensioners is quite ridiculous. They can be a lifeline for poor pensioners to keep them socially active and mentally alert. For the better-off pensioners it would be simple to adjust their tax codes to recoup the cost of these benefits.

Moreover, the total cost of free bus passes could be reduced by raising the qualifying age to match the rise in state pension age.

Quentin Hawkins
Swansea

When will the nightmare of universal credit end?

Universal credit (UC) just keeps getting worse. Recent reports show nearly two million claimants will be worse off under UC. Coupled with a long delay in providing a report on transition from legacy benefits to UC, which is shocking in itself.

The UC process is not simple, as told by IDS. Many cannot cope online, especially those not computer literate, or with mental-health issues, or learning difficulties. We need a back-to-basics approach, with human contact. Am I the only one who feels this?

Far too many have died after being found fit for work, or before disability benefit claims have even been assessed. Shame on us!

Gary Martin
London E17​

Dear Greta Thunberg detractors, give it a rest

While clearly and succinctly speaking truth to power, this remarkable young woman has irrefutably presented the overwhelming moral and scientific case for urgent and radical action to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

The best counter-argument that her detractors have been able to come up with is, “But... but... her mum was on Eurovision!”

Mike Wright
Nuneaton

Theresa May can’t be everywhere at once

Gesture politics is a fine thing but what your habitual correspondent Sasha Simic fails to observe in his letter complaining that Theresa May failed to meet with a 16 year-old environment activist is that she was chairing a meeting of the cabinet (Letters, 24 April).

One of the luxuries of being leader of the opposition is that you have the time to meet with people who have grabbed the public’s attention.

When all is said and done, Greta Thunberg’s message is no different to that we have heard from numerous other advocates, but I don’t hear Simic calling for all of them to be given airtime with the prime minister.

You could equally argue that Jeremy Corbyn is cynically jumping on this particular band wagon for his own political purposes, burnishing his credentials with his political constituency. That, after all, is what leaders of the opposition do.

Robin J Bulow
Deal